Classifying means



Jan. 29, 1935. C, Tl WALTER 1,989,252

CLASSIFYING MEANS Filed Sept. 2, 1952 l Cfies Z' Wdizez' INVENTOR W l T H E s S y f' \/V ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 29, 1935 l l i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l oLAssIfrzGfzin-snns -K 'A l Charles T. Walter, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Industrial Patents Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Delaware' Application septemimr 2,193.2, serial No, 6911,52;

9 claims. (ci. agfigry An object of the invention iste-construct ama- Reference will now be made to the accompanychine ,according to and by which `slabs of bacon ingdrawing forming a par-t of this specification. or the like can be classified or sorted as to cross In said drawing thereis shown in perspective sectional area. 1 1 a classifying and indicatingv machine by which 6 Such sorting is particularly usefuLin-obtainthe invention :may be realized.y The machine 5 ing and assembling slabs of bacon that can sucshown in saiddrawing can be employed to indicessively be fed to continuous slicing andpacking cate the number of slices of bacon of uniform systems wherein the slabs are automatically out thickness thatwill weigh a xedamount, for one afterthe other into slices that are delivered example onefhalf pound. The successful use de- 10 in overlapping arrangement in spaced group pends uponftwo l factors (a) that the density 10 formation upon a suitable conveyingmaohine by throughout the length of the slab is substantially means of which the group is conveyed tofsuitconstant at all points, and'. (b)y thatthe cross able inspecting and nal wrapping stations. The slab of .a slab o f bacon is VeryA close to a rectanconstruction, arrangement and operation of the glei throughout the length of the slab. The

slicing machine and the conveying mechanism 'apparatus shown in said figure performs its f-uno- 15 leading :therefrom is such that the samenumber tion 'bymeaisuring the cross-'sectional area of the of slices are delivered by the slicingmachine for bacon Slab `andy indicates this quantity in terms each group. Such a slicing and packingsystem yQ f the number of 4slices per unit of weight ona has recently been'developed and is the basis 'o f suitable scale, or in other words inV conjunction several applications now on :file in the United ywith a suitable chart.

States Patent Oiice. f Reference will now be made to the Ldrawing in In an application about to be led entitled detai1.- -The reference character 1 represents a Measuring and'packaging method, there is derigid frame work to whichgthe several moving scribed a plan according to. which slabs of bacon parts are attached and by which the several parts are sorted, classified and assembled so that in of thevmachine are carried, 2 represents a flat 25 vany one collection there are included only those .horizontally and transversely extending table 011 slabs having cross section areas withincertain Iwhgicl'rrests. or is Vplaced a bacon slab to be measlimits. When this is completed there is the-de ureol. 3 is a fixed longitudinally extending side liberate pressing of vthe slabs in the particular plate or memberconstituting a longitudinally excollection to a definite cross sectional'area-pret tendingabutment'against which the bacon slab 30 erably to a cross section having a vparticular isforcediby a-transversely moving longitudinally breadth and particular thicknessand the thereextending'side plate 4. 5 indicates a bacon slab after successive transversely `cutting of such in position tobe measured. shaped slabs into slices yhaving ,the` same slice 'Ihismeasuring is accomplished by positioning ..35 thickness. l of the transversely movable longitudinally ex- A further vobject of the present invention is to tending side plate 4 against the edge of the bacon construct and to provide aclassifying machine for slab and by positioning of` a vertically movable such use and the invention has in view the ultitcp plate 6 against the upper surface of the-bacon mate employing or'embodying of certain imporslab. VThis top plate G may be considered as a 40 tant characteristics or features oftheclassifying transversely and horizontally extending top 40 machine in or with a machine for pressing or platewhich is 4movable along a vertical path shaping the slabs so as to have-a particular cross towards and from the table 2. Thel locations of sectional area and/or shape preparatory to slicing plates 4 and 6 respectively control the positions of the slabs in or by a slicing machine. of indicating rneansgor members 'l and 8' fre,-

With these and other objects in view, the in. spectively. yThe indicating means 7 includes `or vention consists in the novel construction, coincomprehends a vertically extending indicating bination and arrangement of parts hereinafter Wire 7a and the indicating means Scomprehends more fullydescribed,illustrated in the accompanyor includes the pivoted relatively horizontally eX- ing drawing, and pointed out in the claims hereto tending indicating ,arm 8e. These indicating appended, it beingV understood that various means operatein conjunction with the chart 9 50 tages of the invention.

changes in the form, proportion and minor debearing lines asd, 7, 8, 9, l0, l1, l2, and 13. These tails of construction, within the scope of the indicating members or arms maybe considered as claims, may be" resorted to without departing functionally associated with respect to the chart. from the spirit or sacrificing -any vof the advan- Each of these lines is marked with. a series of -f 'I i n figures corresponding thereto as iignres 6. 7, 8, 55

9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 which are an indication of the number of slices of bacon per unit of weight.

The members 7a and 8a of the indicating means are operatively arranged in respect to the chart so that at the place or in the immediate vicinity where said members intersect or cross a reading can be taken from the marked lines thereat. In other words, the intersecting of members 78L and8a. over one of the. curved lines on the chart is an indication of the number of slices per unit of weight.

to make up the desired weightunit. f i The indicating means: orffmemberHV 7 comprises, as previously pointed out, a thin wire 7*" stretched between brackets 13 and 14,` vwhich brackets are in turn supported by a vertical arm 15 which is rigidly fastened to a partofJthe.

mechanism that effects horizontal motion in a transverse direction of the lmovable longitudinally extending side plate. In fact the vertical arm 15 as shown is rigidly fastened to the horizontally transversely extending bar '416'Which is in turn integral with side plate 4." This bar 16 is pivotally secured at 17 and 18 to the upper end of links 19 and 20, the latter of which may be considered as part of a bell crank lever' 274, constituting part of a parallel motion mechanism. These links 19 andv 20- are pivotallysecured as at 21 and 22 to a iixed frame member 23. 'Ihis construction, as previously indicated, allows the plate 4 to move in a horizontal but transverse direction because of the parallel motion mechanism just described. Any transverse motion of plate 4 brings vabout an equalor corresponding motion of indicating means or members r7 and the vertically extending indicating wire 7a thereof.

The bell crank lever 24 serves as the member by which motion is transmitted from afoot lever 28, hereinafter referred to, t`o and through the parallel motion mechanism, to the transversely movable side plate 4 and to the indicating means 7 associated therewith. This bell crank'lever 24 is operated'from the foot pedal 28 through the medium of link 25, the upper end of which is pivotally connected to bell crank24, equalizing bar 26 and rod 27, the latter of which is pivotally Vconnected at its lower end to foot pedal 28.

The pressing of the foot downwardly on the lever 28 effects a transverse movement towards the left of the side plate 4 luntil the latter is arrested against further movement because of its contacting with a bacon slab upon the table. Spring 29 serves to return the side plate 4 to its extreme right-hand position and to simultaneously lift the foot pedal lever when' the pressure of the foot is removed fromthe latter.

The indicating means 8 comprises ,straight lever 8a pivoted at 31 to a fixed frame member 30 and an inspection of the ligure readily shows how the indicating member 8a crosses or in effect intersects the vertically extending wire or indicating wire 7a. At an intermediate or mid-point :32 of the lever 8a there is pivotally connected the upper end of a vertical rod 33 to the lower end of which rod there is pivotally connected the plate A6 as at the point 34. An intermediate point 35 of rod 33 is pivotally connected to vlink or lever 36, one end of which link or lever is pivoted to link or link member constituting part of lever 36. One endof the link or lever is pivoted at 37 to a fixed frame member 30 and the other end oi' the lever is pivotally connected at 38 to one end of a rod 39. The other end ofthe rod 39 is The number marked on said curved line is a direct reading. f.,1he.Al number of slices of a certain thickness requiredF fixed stop plate 3.

pivoted to equalizing bar 26 as at 40. The link or lever mechanism just described provides a parallel motion mechanism for vertically positioning the plate 6. The parallel motion mechanism just described is operated to effect downward movement of the plate 6 by downward pressure of the foot on the lever 28, the upward movement of the plate 6 is effected-fbyjmeans o'f the tension spring 41 hereinafterfreferred to. Because of this construction any vertical dis- 'placement of the top plate 6 will cause lever or armv 82L to rotate about the pivotal point 31.

As the distance between the points 31 and 32 on lever 8a is small as compared with the distance between the points 32 and the normal indicating section of lever 8a, the motion or position of the plate 6 isinueffect magnied. In other words -a small vertical motion or variation in position of vthefgvertical plate due to the variation in a thickness as between two bacon slabs will cause a relatively large motion of lever8 across chart 9. The spring' 41 Ypreviously referred -to servesv to retract the-parallel motion mechanism and to thereby hold the plate 6 in its extreme uppermost position inreference to thetable under which conditions the link portion of lever- 36 rests vagainst any suitable stop as for example stop' 42. :It-is clear from the construction shown that a downwarddisplacement of foot pedal 28 which is'pvoted to'xed frame 1 atpoint 43wi1l cause bacon contacting elements'4 and 6 to'v close in against the bacon slab 5.

The equalizing bar 26 in effect serves as'` a fcompensa'tinglmeans whereby both contacting 'elements v4 and 6 can always close in against va slab of bacon regardless of its breadth and thickness. 4In other'words, even though the bacon slabsvary as to thickness and also as to breadth still;A because of this equalizing member thecom- .pensating'can take place whereby the indicating mechanisms can function and can conjointly function. v f

- The vchart 9 is-securedto and carried by the frame in any suitable manner and it will also be lseen that the indicating members 7a and 8EL will operatively associate with this chart. In other words4r so that theyl extend across butvim- -mediately in front of the chart. j

The chart 9 has curved lines thereupon indicated as 6,7, 8, 9, 10, 11,12, and 13. These lines are laid out on the chart-9 by assuminga number ofpositions for plate 4 and calculating the corresponding position of plate 6 which will give thedesired full number of slices. By choosing suitable positions on plate 4 and by calculating the corresponding positions of plate 6 for slice lines 6, 7, '8, 9,' 10, 11, 12, and 13 the entire chart may be calibrated.

The operation of the machine-is as'follows, bacon slab is placed on the table 2 with one edge thereof against the longitudinally extending Foot lever 28 is depressed, which action causes plates 4 and 6 to come Iin .contact with the side and top respectively of the bacon slab 5. The intersection of indicating means 7 and 8 when interpreted in connection with lines 11, 12, etc., show the numberof slices per unit of weight and said slice thickness for which the chart has been calibrated. When foot pedal 28 is released the tension springs 29 and 41 withdraw the plates 4 and V6 respectively in a direction away from the table on the one hand and the fixed contact member on the other, to

wit from lcontact with thefbacon, and reestablish the machine readily for another measurement or for subsequent use.

What I claim is,

1. A classifying and indicating machine comprising in combination therein a iixed frame, a table having a longitudinally and transversely extending horizontal supporting surface, a longitudinally and vertically extending fixed side plate or abutment, cooperatively associated with said table, a longitudinally and vertically extending movable side plate arranged to be transversely positioned in a horizontal direction in respect to the xed side plate, a horizontally and transversely extending movable top plate, transversely positionable in a vertical direction in respect to the table, means for positioning the movable side plate, said movable side plate positioning means comprising parallel links providing parallel motion mechanism whereby said movable side plate is positioned by a horizontal transverse movement thereof, means for positioning the movable top plate, said movable top plate positioning means comprising parallel links providing parallel motion mechanism whereby said top plate is positioned by a vertical transverse movement thereof, a common means for operating said positioning means for simultaneously effecting movement of the movable side plate and the movable top plate respectively toward the iixed side plate and the xed table, cooperating indicating members, a chart carried by the frame and in respect to which chart said indicating members are functionally associated, one oi said indicating members being operated by the parallel motion mechanism for positioning the mov- Y able top plate and the other of said indicating members being operated by the parallel motion mechanism for positioning the movable side plate, and spring means whereby the means for positioning said side plate and the means for positioning said movable top plate to hold said movable side plate and said movable top plate respectively in outermost position in respect to thev xed side plate and in respect to the table except when they are moved by said common operating means.

2. A construction as defined by the last preceding claim in which the chart has spaced, marked indicating lines and in which the indicating members cross and are arranged so that a reading is taken from the marked lines at the place in the immediate vicinity where the indicating members cross. 3. In combination, in a classifying and indicating machine, a main frame, a supporting table, a iixed side plate, a movable side plate, a movable top plate, side plate positioning means, top plate positioning means, associated indicating members, one of said indicating members for and associated with the side plate positioning means, and the other of said indicating members being for and associated with the top plate positioning means, and a chart on the frame with which said indicating members are operatively associated, and common means including an equalizer for operating said positioning means.

4. A classifying and indicating mechanism comprising in combination, a main frame, a supporting table, a top plate movable towards and from the supporting table, a xed side plate, a movable side plate movable towards and from the fixed side plate, means carried by the frame and cooperatively associated with the top plate for guiding the latter in its movement towards and from the table, said guiding means having associated with a movable member thereof a pivoted indicating arm, means carried by the frame and cooperatively associated with the -movable side plate for guiding the latter towards and from the fixed side plate, a vertically extending indicating member positionable by a movable element of the guiding means and a chart carried on and by the frame over and in respect to which chart the pivoted indicating arm and the vertically extending indicating member move, and means for operating and effecting movement of said top plate relative to the table and the movable side plate relative to the fixed side plate.

5. In a classifying and indicating machine, including a main frame, a supporting table, a fixed side plate, a movable side plate, a movable top plate, side plate positioning means, top plate positioning means, and associated indicating members, means for` normally holding the side plate in retracted position and foot operative means for positioning the movable side plate toward the xed side plate.

5. In aY classifying and indicating machine, including a main frame, a supporting table, a fixed side plate, a movable side plate, a movable top plate, a side plate positioning means, top plate positioning means, y `and associated indicating members, means for normally holding the movable top plate in a retracted position and foot operative means for positioning the movable top plate toward the supporting table.

7. In a classifying and indicating machine, in-

cluding a main frame, a supporting table, a xed side plate, a movable side plate, a movable top plate, side plate positioning means, top plate positioning means, and associated indicating members, means yfor normally holding the movable side plate in a retracted position, means' for normally holding the movable top plate in a retracted upper position, and foot operative means for positioning the movable side plate toward the iixed side plate and the movable top plate toward the supporting table.

8. In a classifying and indicating machine, including a main frame, a supporting table, a iixed side plate, a movable side plate, a movable top plate, side plate positioning means and top plate positioning means, a chart having marked, indicating lines thereupon, associated movable indicating members arranged to cross each other approximately at right angles, one of said indicating members moving with said movable side plate and the other of said indicating members moving with said movable top plate,v whereby a direct reading can be taken from the chart at the point at which the two indicating members cross.

9. In combination, in a classifying and indicating machine, a main frame, a supporting table, a xed side plate, a movable side plate, a movable top plate, side plate positioning means, top plate positioning means, associated indicating members, one of said indicating members for and associated with the side plate positioning means, and the other of said indicating members being for and associated with the top plate positioning means, and a chart on the frame with which said indicating members are operatively associated.

CHARLES T. WALTER. 

